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Thunderstorm Asthma

CPDTime.
10m of CPD
On the 21st of November 2016, following a severe thunderstorm, healthcare and emergency services around Melbourne and as far as Geelong were inundated with triple zero calls, emergency department presentations and ambulance requests from people experiencing critical respiratory issues. This unprecedented event - the most severe thunderstorm asthma epidemic ever recorded worldwide - resulted in 3,365 extra hospital presentations and 10 deaths.

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What is this article about?

Thunderstorm asthma occurs when high grass pollen levels and a specific type of thunderstorm align, triggering asthma symptoms in certain people. Thunderstorm asthma events are uncommon and difficult to predict as they require very specific weather conditions. However, the highest risk period is during grass pollen season (October to December).

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  • 3 Assessment Questions

Further Learning

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Ausmed
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Ausmed’s editorial team is committed to providing high-quality, well-researched and reputable education to our users, free of any commercial bias or conflict of interest. All education produced by Ausmed is developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and undergoes a rigorous review process to ensure the relevancy of all healthcare information and updates to changes in practice. If you have identified an issue with the education offered by Ausmed or wish to submit feedback to Ausmed's editorial team, please email ausmed@ausmed.com.au with your concerns.
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What do others think?

594 reviews by Ausmed Learners
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Portrait of Zhimin Zhang
Zhimin Zhang
17 May 2022
Registered Nurse
An informative article to introduce thunderstorm asthma
MS
Maggie Sullivan
20 Apr 2022
Good information to know
NW
Narelle Winzar
16 Apr 2022
Interesting
JS
Julie Smith
15 Apr 2022
Informative
SY
Sue Young
16 May 2022
Extremely interesting read. Provoked further research
JB
Jan Boehm
29 Mar 2023
Registered Nurse
Very informative , & useful resource
HC
Hannah Culley
18 Apr 2022
Registered Nurse
Interesting
EK
Esther Kunzendorf
30 May 2022
Interesting topic
AD
Aliese Dennis
04 May 2022
Good resource, enjoyer reading the interventions.
AM
Alison Menzies
13 May 2022
Registered Nurse
A great short learning exercise.
4.5 / 5
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